Electric control system



Aug 23- 1949 c. J. coLLoM 2,480,000

ELECTRIC CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Deo. 6, 1946 Patented Aug. 23, 1949 ELECTRIC CONTRI' SYSIEIVI"v Cletus J. Collom, Southfield- 'llownshipg Oakland County, Mich., assignor tovWeltronic Company,` Detroit, Mich., a corporationofMichigan.

Application December 6, 1946; Serial-Noz 714586 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical control systems and is especially adapted, among other uses, as a control for regulating the iiow ofv welding energy.

Objects of this inventionv are: to provide a control system `of the above-mentioned typewhichI is simple iny arrangement; economical of manufacture, and which is eflicient in its operation; to provide an improvedv timing mechanism for determining the portion of an electrical cycle during which current iiows through the welding transformer; to provide a phase-shifting circuit for controlling an electronic tube which is normally operable to maintain the tube nonconductive, but, upon actuation thereof, renders thev tube conductive during predetermined portions of an electrical wave; to provide such a phaseshifting system in which energization of a Dortion thereof is controlled by the conductivity'of a pair of reversedly arranged electronic valves; to provide a phase-shifting circuit for operating an electronic valve which will maintain a nonconducting bias on the valve throughout a greater time period than that' in which the anodeof thisY valve is positive with respect tol the cathode thereof; to provide a phase-shift circuit which willv control' an electronic valve irrespective of slight transient changes in phase thereof; and to provide a simple, inexpensive means for'controlling the flow of welding current through a welding transformer. Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

Preferred but illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of an electrical control system for a welding transformer embodying the invention;

Fig; 2 shows a modification of'a portion of the control system of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the inter-relationships of the various voltages in the system when the welding transformer is maintained dce-energized;

Fig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic showing in Which the Welding transformer is being maintained conductive during a desired portion of the wave of the input voltage; and,

Fig. 5 (A and B) are diagrammatic showings of the voltages appearing across the phaseshifting transformer.

It will be appreciated, from a complete understanding oi the present invention, that, in a genericsense, the improvements thereof maybe embodiedzin; electrical control systems intendedV for'various specific; purposes and that such con.- trol systems may be`v variously arranged. In its presenti preferred-1 form the invention` isl utiliized to, control; an electric welding circuit of the im pulseftype, ,andnby Wayfof.v illustration but not of, limitation, the inventionr is so. disclosed herein.

Referring: to, thedrawings by characters of reference,. the system comprises generally a phase-shifting network 2; a ring network 4, and apower-controlling network 6:. When the valves, V-I and;V2:oi the network 2 are nonconductive, thef transformer T2 thereof is operable to impresssuporrthefgrids ofy the-:valves V3 and V4 of. the network: 4 a potential which maintains the gridsthereof: negative'with respect to the cathodesthereof at all times when thel anodes there-v ofare positiyewith respect, to the cathodes there-` of. The power-controllinggvalves V5 and V6 are thereby-maintained de-energized toprevent flow of welding current. through the weldingV trans.- former-WT Referring.: more specifically to the initiating network; 2, .thenetwork: comprisesa pair of backto-baclr; or reversedly connected valves Vil and V2 which preferablyare ofthe gas-lled type, so that;A when they; are; once rendered conductive, they:willrremaimconductive aslong as the anode thereofi positive;v with` respect to the cathode thereof. The anode` of the valve VI and the cathode: of; the,- valve; V2 arei connected together andito' supply lineflil by,v a; conductor l0. Likewise-,ztl'ieanodes of the valve. V2 and the cathode ofthe'. valveiVIi areczonnected' together by a conducten I Ziandit'othesupply line L2 through windings' portionV Maori theeprimary winding of a grid bias-1 controlling. transformer'Td and through a resistor RI. A grid bias controlling transformer T6? hasacenterftappediprirnaryI coil dividing this coilfinterarstfwindingiportion lliV and a second windingportionf I.-Y The common terminal of ther portions. Hiiand` I8 is-connected by means of conductor' llitcrtlie supply' line L2. The free terminalofi the Winding portion I6 is connected directly` totherlineihl, and thefree terminal of the winding' portion? I8f is" connected through switch SW1 tothe lineLI. One terminal of the secondary Windingfof the` transformer T6 is con"- nect'edf tofthe' con'd'uctorvl l2" andthe other terminal is corint-Icted` throughf a network 22 to the gridof the-valve Viwhereby the transformer'TB isloperable` totcorrtrol the' gridl bias of the valve Vflr Y Similarlyy theztransiormen'IA-has the primary winding'portion I 4 and a second primary winding 3 portion 24 with a common terminal which is connected through the resistor RI to the line L2. The free terminal of the winding portion 24 is connected to the conductor I so that the portion 24 is connected between the lines LI and L2. The secondary winding of the transformer T4 is connected through a network 26 to the grid of the Valve V2 and to the cathode of this Valve whereby the transformer T4 is operable to control the grid bias of the valve V2. Y

The conductor I0 is connected by means of a conductor 28 and variable resistor R2 to one end terminal of a center tapped primary winding of the transformer T2; the center tap connection of this prim-ary winding being connected through a resistor R3 to the line L2. The other end terminal of the primary of the transformer T2 is connected through the primary winding of a transformer T8 to the conductor I2. A condenser CI shunts the end terminals of the primary winding of the transformer T2 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. In order that the reactance of the transformer T3 may be varied, the secondary winding thereofis-connected through a Variable resistor R4 whereby thervalue of the resistor R4 is operable to control the impedance of the transformer T8.

The network 4 comprises the valves V3 and V4 controlled by the transformer T2 having a pair of secondary windings 29 and 30. One terminal of each of theser windings 29 and 30 is connected by lead wires 23a and 30a respectively to c-athodes of the valves V3 and V4. The other ends of these windings 29 andA 3U are respectively connected by lead wires 29h and 30h through networks 32 and 34 to the grids of the Valves' V3 and V4 respectively. Capacitors C2 and C4 are connected in shunt relationship between the grids and cathodes of the valves V3' and V4 respectively and act to eliminate or greatly reduce any transient current flowing in therespective grid circuits of the valves V3 and V4. The anodes of the .valves V3 and V4 are respectively connected to the lines LI and L2 while the cathodes of the valves V3 and V4 are connected to the igniters ofthe power valves V and V6 of the network 6.

The power-controlling network 3 comprises generally a pair of back-to-back, reversedly arranged power-controlling valves V5 and V6 which, as shown, are of the mercury-pool type ignited or rendered conductive uponthe application to the cathode of a critical potential by its igniter. The anode of the valve V5 is connected directly to the line LI and to the cathode of the valve V6. The anode of the valve'V is connected through the primary winding of the welding transformer WT to the line L2 and also to the cathode of the valve V'5.

It is thought that the remaining details of the system may best be understood with reference to a description of the operation thereof. Assuming that it is desired to condition the `system for operation, the usual disconnect line switches LSI and LSZ may be closed, thereby connecting the line conductors LI and L2 to a source of supply which may be a conventional sixty-cycle alternatingcurrent system. Energization of the lines LI and L2 energizes the winding portion I6 of the transformer T6 and portion 24 of the transformer T4. Energization of the winding portion I6 causes the secondary of the transformer TB to impress a voltage between the cathode Iand grid of the valve VI which is substantially one hundred eighty degrees out of phasel with the voltage between the anode and cathode of the valve VI. Likewise, en-

ergization of the primary winding portion 24 of the transformer T4 impresses a Voltage between the grid and cathode of the Valve V2 which is substantially one hundred eight degrees out of phase 5 with the voltage between the anode and cathode thereof. The Valves VI and V2 are thereby maintained in a nonconductive condition.

At the same time the lines LI and L2 were energized, the right-hand primary winding portion B was energized by a circuit extending from line Ll through conductor I0, variable resistor R2, conductor 28, winding portion B, and resistor R3 to the line L2. A voltage is therefore impressed between the grid and cathode of the Valves V3 V4 which maintains the grids thereof negative at all times that the anodes thereof are positive with respect to the cathodes thereof. Since the valves V3 and V4 are maintained in a nonconducting or blocked condition, the critical potential will not be applied to the igniters of the valves V5 and VS, and they will likewise be maintained nonconducting and no current will flow through the welding transformer WT. When, however, the switch SWI is closed, current will flow from the line LI through the winding portion I8 and conductor 2U to the line L2. This flow of current through the winding portion I3 bucks out the flux in the core of the transformer T6 due to current iiow through the winding portion I6, thereby ole-energizing the secondary winding of the transformer Tt and allowing the valve VI to conduct. Upon conduction of the valve VI, current ows from the line LI through conductor I0, Valve VI, conductor l2, primary winding of the transformer TS, and the left-hand half winding portion UB of the primary winding of the transformer T2 and through the resistor R3 to the line L2. Current also flows through the valve VI and conductor I2 through the winding portion I4 and resistor RI to the line L2. This ow of current to the winding portion I4 bucks out the effect of the flow of current to the winding portion 24, thereby de-energizing the secondary winding of the transformer Tf1V so that during the subsequent half cycle to the half cycle in which the valve VI is rendered conductive, the valve V2 will likewise conduct, causing current to flow through the before-mentioned circuit but in a reverse direction.

This current through the valves VI and V2 flows through the variable reactor or transformer T8, through the winding portion UB of the transformer T2 so that the flux produced in the core of the transformer T2 by the winding UB combines with that produced in the core by the winding B so that the secondary winding of the transformer T2 applies a phase-shifted voltage to the grid valves V3 and V4 which renders them conductive during a predetermined desired portion of the voltage wave between the lines LI and L2. The amount of phase shift, and consequently the exact portion of the voltage wave during which the valves V3 and V4 are conductive, depends upon the setting of the variable resistor R4.

The line L! will of course be positive with respect to the line L?. whenever the valve V3 conducts and, at the instant that the Valve V3 conducts, the critical potential will be supplied between the cathode and igniter of the valve V5, rendering the valve V5 conductive for current ii ow from the line L! through the valve V5 and the welding transformer WT to the line L2. Welding current then flows between the electrodes and through the work W associated with the welding transformer WT. During the subsequent half cycle of voltage between the lines LI and L2, when medew thedirre4 E2 is positive withg respect" to ther linefLf, current; WillE fl'ovvf through the valve V4' to place the critical? potential between: the cathodeI and igniter ot the valve VG, rendering' thevalve' VE conductive fory current flow front the liner L2 through therv Welding tran'sforrnerk WT and the valt/e V6 to thev line Ll?. The valves V51 and Vt are therefore alternately rendered' conductivev at @predetermined point on eachvoltage Wave as long asithe switch SW'I remains closedi When the switch SW I' is opened; however; the valve Vl is rendered nonconductive and remains nonconductivethroughout subsequent' cyclesl of theivoltage Wave.- Aft'er theend'* of the hal cycle subsequent to that" during which valve Vl? condiiots-, the valve V2 will ol?VA coursel loe"` rendered nonconductive and? remain' in that condition duning all subsequent half cycles tothe half' cycles i'whioh thevalve Vl is nonconductve'. The ren"- deriiig'i of the ValvesvVl and V2 nonconductive de"- eiiergizes the Winding portion" UB of the transe former T`2f so that the voltage' impressed between the gridy and' cathode of the valves V3 and V4 is ag'ai-n returnedv to the blocking voltage' which is substantially one hundred eighty'degrees out of phase withfrespect to the voltage between thelnes I'tli andLZ.

Referring more specifically to the specific operation of the phase-shi`ftin`g circuit portion of the network 2', Figi 5A shows the relationsliipv of therblockingvoltage to the applied voltage be tween the lines' Ill and' L2; El' designating the vol-'tagey Wave ofi the applied voltagebetween the lines- L! andv L2 and E representing' the Wave ofj the blocking voltage appearing across the secl dndary' windings ofthe transformer' T2v with the winding UB cle-energized. It will be noted that, in this circuit, variable resistor R2" and' resistor R3? are arranged in series circuit with the Wi`nding` portion B of the transformer T2, thereby-re'- ducing' the voltage across the winding portion B and regulating the value of the blocking voltage and, to some extent its pliaseirelationship" with the Voltage between thelinesljl" and I3?! to pro`- videv af blocking voltage which just less than' onehundred eighty electrical'- degroesibeli'hd'tle line-voltage Ell When the valves Vl and" VZ' are conducting; the Winding portion UB: is energized. The'Volt`- age dueto portion' UB' is represented invFig; 5A by the reference' character E'ub. The'value off the resistor isY so adjustedv that the volt'age'wave Euh lags' the voltage' wave El lry` approximately twenty"ttvo degrees. With the va'djust'rnent' ofthe resister Rill, the magnitude ofthe'voltage Euh is approximately twice that of' the voltage andV the actual bias voltage of' the secondary Windingv of'tlfie` transformer' T6 Willloev tle vector sur'n. of the two' voltages Eub and E6 which' is repr.esented"bv the dash lineEfo in-Fi'g; 5A. Since' the windings UB and B are liotlV on"` the same transformer core', no actual voltages Eul and'Eb` will" be produced simultaneously; The voltage Eo represents theoutput voltage diie to-tliere'e sultant flux in` the core of the transformer- The'separate voltages Eub and Eb rhay'of course bei' obtained by= energizing either.' ofl the windings UB'or'; B separately. Since iseasiertovisualize the phase-shiftingL effect when voltages rather thaniiilxare shown, the description Willproeeed as" thoughthe' twovoltages' Euh and Eh were actually produced and mixed rather thanfdescrib'- ing the resultant fluxr which actually produces the resultant voltage Eo.

Itg willfbe notedtha-t the resultant grid biasing vcltage Eo# la'gsthe: linei voltage El? by." approxi#- matelfv forty-five: electrical-r degrees; If this: voltage were' applied. directly 'to the valves V3'an'd' Vil-ivllliichlfire;v at substantially. zero gridebias po'- tential,f the?Y Valves? V3i and Vt? would' hrey sub .st-aritiallir` fortyliive degreesibehind'the line voltagfeanct consequentlyfthevalves V5 and V6' will` like iseiresubstantiallyforty-five degrees behihdttieilieioltag'e El.

In'r Eig.. 5B? there is; shownf a similar' relationsli butthowever; ther-.value of the resistor R4 4 lias beenl increased;y thereby increasing the lvalue ofthereactanceofithe transformer T8 Which-wilt Eletti'.cllst'n'gerthev magnitude' of the voltage Euh andi p'lfiasey relations-hip with` the` line voltagesubstantiallas?shown'. The valueofA voltage Ehas beeiif'dccreasedto'substantially the valuek otthe voltagerEiZrand the voltage wave Euh lags thefvoltager El! by approximately' sixty-seven de` grees4 It'Wi'll be noted, however, that the-volt a'gewaveiPEola'gsthezvcltage wave El byapproxil rha'tely one? hundred# tlnirtyeve` electrical des-v grees.` Theili'in'g ofthe valves` V31; Vdi', V5' and Vtt will" therefore occur substantially one hundred? thirty-five electrical degrees behind the voltagetwave El; and `the* Welding" energy supplied totthcwelding electrodes E' by the Welding transfoi'menWTWillibe :greatly reduced.

Again4 referring? more specicially` to some or the details ofi the` phaseshifting circuit of the mettront. 2,2m willi lie-1notedr that whenlthe valves Vil and Vfarenot conducting; the onlycurrent flowing; through: the i resistor.' Rsf is that flowing throng-n1 the Winding-JB; Therefore; the voltage. drops thereacrossf` is'. that due" to'the current' in winding B, and the magnitude.- of'- the voltage Wave Ebiwillbeof: aL rst value; The current which owsthrloilg'hi the WindingU13T also flows' throught the resistor Rie, thereby increasingthe s voltage drop= thereacross and decreasing the' val-ue on thewoltage acrosstlie windin'g'portion B so'l thats. when valves Vl'` and V2' conduct", the voltage Ebiisreduced* to? substantially the value asshownibylthecurveEbinFig; 5.

It' will? bef. noted` that the resistor R2 is: shown as'rbeigof theva'riableresistance type, and' adjustments thereof-1 may* he used to further determm'ez'the; amount ofE phase shift produced bythe phaseiishift circuit* of:` the network" 2. As the valueoitliefblocking voltage Ebis decreased due to' anihoreesein valueof' resistor R2', the phase relationshipi and: incidentally the magnitude of the resultantzvcltagelliowill be changed so that the resultant voltage Eo will decrease in the number of:electrioal'adegrees of lagirom the Volta'geewave Eub andconsequentlythe voltage wave lrszthevalnezofA theresistor R2 'is decreased', the-magnitudeofithe voltage. wave Eb is increased. tliereiyf causing a greater'lag'of the voltage Wave Eorwith respecttothevoltage wave Eb'A4 and consequentlv'offthewave lEo with respect to' the vo1t age1WavefEhsofthat; withY the same adjustment offthercsistortiltthe valves V3-Virwill iii-e at ai laten time withy respect to the voltagel wave El; Similarly; asi thev value of the resistor R2 is increased', the value of'i the wave Eb willi decrease; thereby4 moving: the resultant grid bias wave'Eo'tcra lesserflagging angle with' respect to thervoltageiwaveiEubfand therefore the Voltage WaiveElg It will be obvious tothose' skilled in theV art that the-currentwave through the valves Vl and V2? Williriotbe'- sinusoidal but will consist of separated positive Aaird'rlegative pulses' or loops ofcurrentAv which will start and" end abruptly duev to the fact that a predetermined voltage must be applied'between the anode and cathode of the valves V! and V2 before current ows and that it takes a second predetermined value of voltage between the anode and cathode of the valves to maintain current flow therethrough. It will be obvious that with current waves of this description, there will be transients caused by the abrupt current change. In order to prevent these transients as far as possible and to maintain substantially sinusoidal current ow through the valves Vl and V27 the condenser CI has been applied between the terminals of the primary winding of the transformer T2 and the condensers C2 and C!! have been applied across the grid and cathode of the valves V3 and V4 respectively. When the values of these condensers are correctly proportioned with respect to the electrical characteristics of the circuit as may readily be done by those skilled in the art, the current wave iiowing through the winding UB will approach sinusoidal form. It is further necessary, in order that a degree of stability be obtained in the phase shift produced by the phase-shifting circuit of the network 2, that this current ow through the winding portion be substantially sinusoidal in order that the potential drop across the resistor R3 may be maintained at the normal desired value, it being understood from the description presented hereinbefore that if the value of the resistor R3 varies greatly, the 'phase-shifting characteristics of the circuit will also vary, and it will be impossible to obtain any degree of consistency in the ring of the valves V5 and V6 which is necessary to maintain the power supplied to the welding electrodes E at a xed value.

It will be noted that networks 32 and 34 are placed in the circuit from the transformer T2 to the grids of the valves V3 and V4 respectively. The functioning of these networks, as `shown in the drawings (Figs. 3 and 4) is to provide a gridbias voltage which leads the line voltage as the anode of the respective valve becomes positive and lags the line voltage as the anode of the respective valve becomes negative, thereby completely blocking the valve even if 'transients should occur in the circuits for any reason whatsoever. In explaining the operation of these networks 32 and 34, the operation of the network 32 will be described in detail, the operation of the network 34 being similar and differing only in that it operates with respect to the valve V4 when the line L2 is positive with respect to the line Ll.

Referring to Fig. 3. it is assumed that the line switches LSI and LSZ are closed at the instant in which the voltage of line Ll is zero and is to start on a negative half cycle. The blocking voltage Eb is substantially zero and ready to go into a positive half cycle. As the value of the blocking voltage becomes more positive with respect to the cathode of the valve V3, current flows through the network 32 and a gradually increasing potential is set up across the resistor thereof and consequently in reverse arrangement across the capacitor of the network 32, as shown by the voltage waves Egb and Ec. As the value of the voltage Eb approaches maximum, the value of the voltage Ec across the capacitor approaches a maximum and the value of voltage Egb is at its maximum positive potential. As the value of the voltage Eb decreases, the capacitor of the network 32 causes a negative voltage to be applied to the grid of the valve V3 with respect to the cathode thereof and iiow of grid .current ceases. The capacitor of the network 32 then commences to discharge through itsassociated resistor as indicated by the line identiiied as normal discharge rate of the capacitor with the selected resistance-capacitance value. An RC value of .03 second -has been found to be satisfactory. The value of the voltage Egb will be the vector sum of the voltage Eb andthe voltage Ec so that the voltage Egb .will become negative quite a bit ahead of the time that the voltage of the line Ll becomes positive with respect to the line L2, thereby completely blocking the valve V3 against firing.l

-As shown in Fig. 3, the grid bias voltage is approximately iifty degrees ahead of the line voltageEZ. Since the voltage across the capacitor Ec is substantially D. C., as the blocking voltage Eb starts again from its extreme negative value toward a positive value the grid bias voltage will begin to lag the blocking voltage and will not become of zero value until approximately thirty degrees after the Voltage of the line Ll has become negative with respect to the voltage of the line L2. YIt may, therefore, be seen that the use of this -network 32 completely blocks conduction through the valve V3 even though the grid bias volt-age should shift slightly due to transient conditions which might occur in the phase-shifting circuit. Similar subsequent cycles act in a similar manner as is also shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 there is shown the relationship of the grid bias voltage Egb when the winding UB is energized and the valves V3 and V4 are firing. For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the switch SW! is closed sometime prior to the time that the line Ll becomes positive and the value of Eb becomes negative. At the instant A, the valve Vl will commence to conduct. Shortly thereafter, for example at the instant B, any transient which has been caused by the change of the circuit conditions will have subsided and a new steady state of the operation of the phaseshift circuit of the network 32 is established.

The voltage conditions will now be represented by the line El which represents the voltage of the line LI with respect to the line L2, the voltage wave Eps which represents the resultant output voltage of the secondary winding of the transformer T2 associated with the valve V3 and voltage wave Eg'b which represents the voltage between the grid and cathode of the valve V3. Since to render the valve V3 conductive it is not necessary to apply any predetermined maximum value of positive bias to the grid thereof, the Valve V3 being operable to be rendered conductive at a very slight negative or zero bias, it will be observed that the valve V3 will be red at approximately one hundred ten degrees behind the voltage wave El and will be continued to be red at a predetermined lagging relationship with respect to the voltage wave El throughout subsequent cycles during the time that the valves Vl and V2 are maintained conductive. The lagging relationship of the voltage Egb is somewhat greater than that of the phase-shift voltage Eps. However, this is not detrimental to the action of the system as it is necessary merely to recalibrate the adjustment of the resistor R4 to take into account this increased lagging effect due to the network 32.

In Fis. 2 there is shown a modified form of the network 2 comprising two transformers TIU and Tl2, a circuit closing switch SW2, and a variable reactor VR which may be either of the inductive type similar to the transformer T8 of Fig. l or may be of the capacitive type wherethe voltage applied between said one electrode and said control electrode is such that said valve is maintained nonconductive, said second leg having a voltage characteristic dephased with respect to said rst leg characteristic such that when said second leg is energized the voltage applied by said terminals Ibetween said one electrode and said control electrode is such that said valve is rendered capable of conducting for said selected portion of said voltage cycle, and means operable to energize and de-energize said second leg whereby said valve is rendered conductive for said selected time interval and rendered nonconductive at other time intervals.

6. In an alternating voltage electrical control system, a translating means adapted to be energized for selective time intervals and for selected portions of the voltage cycle, a current controlling Valve having a pair of principal electrodes and a control electrode, a phase-shifting network having output terminals connected between one of said principal electrodes and said control electrode, said network comprising a rst and a second impedance leg, said iirst leg having a continually applied voltage characteristic such that with said second leg de-energized the phase of the voltage applied between said one electrode and said control electrode is such that said valve is maintained nonconductive, said second leg having a voltage characteristic dephased with respect to said first leg characteristic such that when said second leg is energized the voltage applied by said terminals between said one electrode and said control electrode is such that said valve is rendered capable of conducting for said selected portion of said voltage cycle, and means including electronic valves operable to energize and de-energize said second leg whereby said current controlling valve is rendered conductive for said selected time interval and rendered nonconductive at other time intervals.

7. In an alternating voltage electrical control system, a current-controlling valve having a pair of principal electrodes and a control electrode, transformer means having an output winding connected to bias said control electrode relative to one of said principal electrodes, said transformer means having a pair of input windings, circuit means maintaining continual energization of one of said input windings whenever voltage y is applied between said principal electrodes, circuit means for selectively energizing the other of said input windings, a phasing element for controlling the phase of the input voltage to said one input winding whereby the output voltage of said output winding provides a blocking bias on said control element when said second-named circuit means is de-energized, and a phasing element for controlling the phase of the voltage applied to said other winding so that upon energization of both of said input windings a bias is provided on said control element to provide for conduction of said valve during a selected portion of the voltage wave.

8. In an alternating voltage electrical control system, a current-controlling valve having a pair of principal electrodes and a control electrode, transformer means having an output winding connected to bias said control electrode relative to one of said principal electrodes, said transformer means having a pair of input windings, circuit means maintaining continual energization of one of said input windings whenever voltage is applied between said principal electrodes, circuit means for energizing the other of said input windings, a phasing element for controlling the phase of the input voltage to said one input winding whereby the output voltage of said output winding provides a blocking bias on said control element when said second-named circuit means is de-energized, a phasing element for controlling the phase of the voltage applied t0 Said other Winding so that upon energization of both of said input windings a bias is provided on said control element to provide for conduction of said valve during a selected portion of the voltage wave, and means controlling the energization of said last-named circuit means.

9. In an alternating voltage electrical control system, a, phase-shifting network comprising transformer means having a plurality of windings, a iirst circuit means for one of said windings, and including an impedance element, a second circuit means for a second of said windings and including an impedance element, said impedance elements being so inter-related that the voltages in said circuit means are dephased with respect to each other, a pair of reversedly arranged electronic valves 0f the discontinuous control type controlling the energization of one of said circuit means, and Vreactance means associated with said one circuit means for rendering the current ow in the winding associated with said one circuit means substantially sinusoidal.

l0. In an alternating Voltage electrical control system, an electronic current controlling valve having a pair of principal electrodes and a control electrode, a phase-shifting network controlling the conductivity of said valve and comprising a transformer means having an output circuit connected between one of said principal electrodes and said control electrode, network means comprising a capacitor and a resistor arranged in parallel circuit with each other, said capacitor and resistor being so related in value with each other as to have an R-C time value of at least one and one-half cycles of the alternating voltage which is applied to the system, said network means being located in said output circuit adjacent said control electrode, a pair of input circuits for said transformer means, each of said input circuits including an impedance element, each said element having a diierent voltage-phasing relationship, means continually energizingV one of said pair of input circuits, the one of said elements in said one input circuit being arranged to provide a control voltage for said control electrode such that whenever voltage is supplied to said principal electrodes and the other of said input circuits is de-energized said valve is maintained nonconductive, means comprising a pair of reversedly arranged discontinuous control-type valves controlling flow of current through the other yof said pair of input circuits, the one of said elements in said other input circuit being arranged to provide an input voltage which when combined with that of said one input circuit will provide a control voltage for said control electrode such that said current-controlling valve is rendered conductive, means operable to render said reversedly arranged valves conductive, and impedance means associated with said transformer means for rendering the current flow through said transformer means due to conduction of said reversedly arranged valves substantially sinusoidal.

11. In an alternating voltage electrical control system adapted to control the energization of a translating means adapted to be energized for selective time intervals and for selected portions of the voltage cycle, a current controlling valve having a pair `of principal electrodes and a control electrode, a phase-shifting network having output terminals connected between one of said principal electrodes and said control electrode, said network comprising a rst and a second impedance leg, said rst leg having a continually applied voltage characteristic such that with said second leg in .one conducting condition the phase of the voltage applied between said one electrode and said control electrode is such that said valve is maintained nonconductive, said second leg having a voltage characteristic dephased with respect to said rst leg characteristic such that when said second leg is in a second conducting condition the voltage applied by said terminals between said one electrode and said control electrode is such that said valve is rendered capable of conducting for said selected portion of said voltage cycle, and means operable to render said second leg in said one and said second condition whereby said valve is rendered conductive for said selected time interval and rendered nonconductive at other time intervals.

12. In an alternating voltage electrical control system, a current-controlling valve having a pair of principal electrodes and a control electrode, transformer means having an output winding connected to bias said control electrode relative to one of said principal electrodes, said transformer means having a pair :of input windings, circuit means maintaining continual energization of one of said input windings whenever voltage is applied between said principal electrodes, circuit means for selectively energizing the other of said input windings, said first-named circuit means being phased to provide a blocking bias on said control element when said second-named circuit means is de-energized, and a phasing element for controlling the phase of the voltage applied to said other winding so that upon energization of both of said input windings a bias is provided :on said control element to provide for conduction of said valve during a selected portion of the voltage wave.

13. In an alternating voltage electrical control system, a current-controlling valve having a pair of principal electrodes and a control electrode, transformer means having an output winding connected to bias said control electrode relative to one of said principal electrodes, .said transformer means having a pair of input windings, circuit means for energization of one of said input windings, circuit means for selectively energizing the other of said input windings, said firstnamed circuit means being phased to provide a blocking bias on said control element when said second-named circuit means is (ie-energized, and a phasing element for controlling the phase of the voltage applied to said other winding so that upon energization of said other winding a bias is provided on said control element to provide for conduction of said valve during a selected portion of the voltage wave.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which said phasing element comprises a transformer having its primary winding connected in series with said other input winding and having its secondary winding connected across a resistor.

15. The combination of claim 14 in which said resistor may be adjusted to vary the magnitude of current circulating through said secondary winding.

CLETUS J. COLLOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,892,543 Troger Dec. 27, 1932 1,954,680 Morack Apr. 10, 1934 2,020,814 Howe Nov. 12, 1935 2,030,100 Dawson Feb. 11, 1936 2,033,016 Vedder Mar. 3, 1936 2,359,181 Willis Sept. 26, 1944 2,395,881 Klemperer Mar. 5, 1946 Certificate of Correction Patent N o. 2,480,000 August 23, 1949 CLETUS J. COLLOM It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above l numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 4, for the Word eight read eighty; column 10, line 63, for internals read intervals;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Gce. Signed and sealed this 17th day of January, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

